I ran the Peshtigo Fire Tower 5k Run this morning, above you can see the t-shirt I got (one of my favorite things about running these races are the t-shirts). I had two goals when I arrived at this race; first was to run the entire race and second was to finish in under 40 minutes. I had to slow down and walk at about mile 2 for a little but I did finish the last mile fast and I did the race in 38 minutes, so goal number two was a success. However, I had an almost embarrassing moment at the finish line but made it through with my dignity. I had really pushed it my last mile but especially the last half mile and I didn't realize it at the beginning of the race but our Congressman Steven Kagen was giving out the commemorative wooden medallions... wait is that the right word? Can a medallion be wooden? Anyway, he was giving them to the runners as they crossed the finish line. You would run past the clock, someone would rip off the bottom portion of your number and then Steven Kagen would put medallion around your neck. Well since I had been pushing it so hard across the finish line when I stopped running I really felt like I was going to be sick. I wanted to get out of that area ASAP just in case I did lose my breakfast I didn't want to do it on the track. While attempting my hasty exit the Congressman steps in front of me, offers me a congratulations and puts the medallion around my neck. All I could think was, "If he doesn't hurry this up I am totally going to barf on my Congressman." Well I made it through and after getting a drink of water I felt much better and I didn't actually lose my breakfast. For the next run my goals are to run the entire race, finish faster than I did today and don't barf on a Congressman.
Where I work there is a college student that works part-time and over the summer she took time off to participate in an internship. She came back a couple weeks ago but yesterday she and I were the only people in the lab and I was telling her something when right in the middle she interrupts me and says, "I just have to say I can tell you are losing weight, ok go on with what you were saying." I tell you this story for two reasons, first, this is the first time someone that didn't know I was dieting has commented on my weight loss and it made my day. Secondly, I felt like she was uncomfortable paying me that compliment. Do people find it awkward to comment on a persons weight even if it's complimentary?